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I recently purchased a VXR as a cruiser and for the kids to enjoy. With everything going on here in Louisiana, and being off of work, I figured I might as well pull the transom and grate to be 100% sure it's sealed properly. In the process, I noticed the transom inlet to ramp of the factory intake grate had nearly .060" gap across the whole crescent. I know the rubber factory plug "should" aid in limiting suction through that gap, but I wanted to tighten that clearance. I had a junk FXSHO hull laying around, so I figured why not rob the rear intake grate brackets and reinforce the hull in the process as a precautionary. (probably overkill, but better safe than sorry being it was all apart) Once I removed and resealed the transom, (which was slightly misaligned from the factory, as my GP was), and filled the voids below the rear intake grate brackets, I dry fit the grate. If you notice on the factory grates, the front bolt holes are slotted. Being the intake grate doesn't bolt to the transom itself like other models, you can't dry fit and match them tight together prior to the transom and grate install. Using the mentioned slots in the front bolt holes on the grate, I slid the grate back as far as the slots would allow tightening the front bolts only, and butting the rear ramp of the grate to the tunnel inlet of the transom. Now that I filled the voids in the hull for the new longer brackets, it allowed me to drill the 4 rear grate mounting holes further back, allowing the grate and transom to fit flush. When installing the grate, I also used sealant between the rear ramp of the grate and tunnel inlet on the transom. Not only is the transom 100% true, being I used shims to even the spacing on the alignment notches as seen in the pics, I also closed the gap. which could allow air in front of the impeller when under vacuum. The last 3 pics will show the difference before and after the mod/repair. The pics are taken underneath the ski, with a drop light inside the tunnel at the transition of the intake grate and transom.
I made this post for those interested in possibly doing the same, and pictures along the way so you could reference what I mentioned above.
Keith
I made this post for those interested in possibly doing the same, and pictures along the way so you could reference what I mentioned above.
Keith
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